Well, I'm certainly disappointed that taxes increased on anyone. I'll be interested to see details of the permanent AMT patch. Not sure we were going to get a better deal than this, even though the class warfare sickens me.

I agree with you. The rhetoric from the media and the Democrats is to the left of Joseph Stalin. They actually believe that other people's businesses, farms, homes, bank accounts, and savings belongs to Washington to begin with, and as our Masters, we surfs should kiss their posteriors and be thankful they don't take it all (cue George Harrison).

There is a reason God commanded that we Do Not Covet.

What the Democrats (read: Communists) practice is not only sinful, it flies in the face of the Almighty, and they will someday answer to Him for it.

As far as spending, it sounds like the cuts go into effect. Personally I hope they're made permanent and extended to other areas. My view is that there's plenty of bloat that can be cut in every department, including the DOD.

There is "bloat" in any organization, including the car dealerership that didn't fix my car properly for the 3rd time, the real estate office that I paid that seemed to have 6 women on staff whose job it was to stare at the fax machine, and my kid's school that takes 70% of my five figure property taxes.

The DoD is the only Federal institution that takes on a global mission and performs thousands of missions magnificently every day. When disaster, war, and terror strike us, it answers. It is also a Constitutional institution. Someone name another Federal agency that can fill those squares.

What hurts the most is that it seems to be the GOP that is now the advocate of gutting the military.

The DoD is the only Federal institution that takes on a global mission and performs thousands of missions magnificently every day. When disaster, war, and terror strike us, it answers. It is also a Constitutional institution. Someone name another Federal agency that can fill those squares.

Yes, I certainly agree with that. Personally I think that if we're going to cut funding for the DOD then every other gency should be hit with much larger cuts as a percent of their expenditures. And I think that's an argument that could be sold to the public using your above statement. Sadly I'm doubtful that it will actually occur, though.